Each assessment done for our diabetes self management skills program requires a complete food history – including the speed of one’s eating: “Do you eat quickly/fast, normal speed or slowly?” I have asked this question to approximately 2,000 patients in the last three years. Since we are preparing for program re-accreditation, I found that approximately 70% […]
I just returned from a high school reunion and I will say it has been more than 40 years since I have seen most of these people. As with the general population, there were people who gained weight, grew beards, went bald, wear glasses and developed chronic illnesses over the years including diabetes. Being a nurse/diabetes […]
According to The American Podiatric Medical Association, “more than 65,000 lower limbs are amputated yearly from diabetes complications. Including a podiatrist in your diabetes care plan can reduce the risk of lower limb amputation up to 85% and lower the risk of hospitalization for foot problems up to 24%”.
I had hoped that the summertime would give us time to reflect and relax with a slower pace and offer less responsibility. This definitely has not been the case. I have recently instructed several patients who are under a great deal of stress whether it is related to family issues, work, finances, or their own health […]
There are a few diabetes articles that I keep bookmarked on my laptop because I am always going to them as a reference point for information. Similarly, I do the same with some of the diabetes publications that I get in the mail, especially if I find something that I can share with a patient or […]
According to the National Institutes of Health, the rate of pre-diabetes has climbed to 86 million Americans over the age of 20 in 2012. 51% of those people are over the age of 65. Just two years […]
Last week I re-educated a darling couple for the 3rd time to help them gain blood glucose control. They have only relied on their A1C results up to this point since they refused to test themselves daily. I have seen many patients with diabetes over my 25-year career, but these two had every excuse NOT to […]
The lazy days of summer can cause easy weight gain and elevated sugars, since many people like to stay out of the hot kitchen and either grab a quick meal or enjoy a full dining experience. Realize that dining out is all about choices, and it is up to you to make the best ones if […]
Today, we will continue with reasons why blood sugars may vary from day to day – even though you are eating the same foods in the same quantities at the same time. As stated before, food has a huge impact on blood sugar control, but it is far from the only reason.
Patients frequently want to know “what causes my blood sugars to go up and down even though I am doing the same things every day.” Patients will eat similar foods in the same quantities daily and hope their blood sugars will stay at the same level. Although eating does have a huge impact on blood sugars, […]